Patricia Ferro* — ISES ITALIA, criferro@tiscali. it
Cesare Silvi* — ISES ITALIA — csilvi@jndra. com
Maryke van Staden* — International Solar Energy Society (ISES) — mvanstaden@ises. org
*ISES ITALIA, Via Tommaso Grossi 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
* InternationalSolarEnergySociety(ISES), Wiesentalstr50, 79115Freiburg, Germany

Introduction

Recognising the need for practical training in the field of integrating solar technologies in building design, using solar architecture strategies, Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) and energy efficiency (EE) concepts, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) organised the first Summer Academy for Solar Architecture in Freiburg, Germany in 1997. This training event focused on sustainable building in temperate to cold climates (Northern and Central Europe). Subsequent events were organised in different parts of the world, providing training to professionals in the building industry, as well as to senior architecture and engineering students.

ISES together with ISES ITALIA (the Italian Section of ISES), adapted the Summer Academy concept for training in the Mediterranean region. They jointly realised the first Summer Academy for Mediterranean Solar Architecture (SAMSA) in Rome in the summer of 2002, togetherwith the University of Roma Tre.

This paper addresses the experiences gained with the realisation of the SAMSA 2002 in Italy, dealing with the Academy contents and organisational aspects. Regarding the contents, the paper will review the approach used in dealing with the general principles of solar architecture and the requirements of the Mediterranean cultures and climates (e. g. considering the ‘whole building’ approach, natural cooling and ventilation system, etc). On the organisational aspects it will provide an insight into the cooperation between experts and organisations, as a key factor for the success of the Academy (acquiring funding, selecting experts, regional marketing, etc).

In 2004 the range of Summer Academies continues, with three European events promoted by the ISES network. This will build on the SAMSA 2002 and other events, providing an inter-connected range of further education teaching events. It will assist the sharing of information and tools for implementing solar architecture and EE designs, using RETs. In this way the Academies support and expand the European network ofskilled solararchitecture professionals.

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and should not be ascribed to ISES ITALIA.